Former Super Eagles defender George Abbey has backed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) decision to appoint a foreign Technical Adviser for the team.
Following the Eagles’ poor showing against South Africa and Benin Republic on matchday 3 and 4 in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the NFF executive committee announced that a foreign coach, who will serve as technical adviser to head coach Finidi George would be appointed.
The NFF’s decision to hire a foreign coach came just over a month after the appointment of Finidi, who took over from Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro. Finidi has since resigned his position as Eagles head coach.
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Finidi was called out by Victor Osimhen on Instagram, accusing the former Ajax star of allegedly saying he wouldn’t beg him (Osimhen) to play for the Eagles.
Speaking on the move to get a foreign handler Abbey, a 2004 AFCON bronze medal winner. said it is the best decision.
According to the former right-back, no local coach can command respect from the players of the Eagles.
“I believe this players need to respect the head coach especially the foreign based players,” George said on Brila FM. “I don’t see any local head coach now who would demand the respect as required to lead this team. So I believe it’s the right decision to go and look for a capable Technical Adviser who would steer this team in the right direction, who would enforce discipline, bring the right philosophy and hopefully get this players playing in the right way, wanting to give their all to the national team.
“A coach who would come and identify the strength and weaknesses of the team and hopefully pick a team that is capable of delivering the result we need.“
The Eagles will be back in March in continuation of the World Cup when they will take on Rwanda in Kigali and Zimbabwe in Uyo.
9 Comments
HERVE RENARD is the way……
I completely agree with you but Nff lacks vision and are a certified enemy of progress due to their corrupt practices
THIS IS HOW EVERY FOOTBALLER WHO MEANS WELL FOR NIGERIAN FOOTBALL SHOULD BE SOUNDING. THE RESPECT PART IS NOT REALLY OR EVEN THE ISSUE THE ISSUE IS THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND SELECT ON SENTIMENTS THESE LOCAL COACHES AND FOR SOME DELUDED REASON THEY DON’T WANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR LOCAL LEAGUE BUT YET WANT TO FRUSTRATE US WITH THE MENTION OF THOSE PLAYERS COMMANDING SHIRTS IN SUPER EAGLES. MEANWHILE OUR ACADEMIES ARE CHURNING OUT WORLD CLASS PLAYERS LIKE A VERY VERY EFFECTIVE MERCEDEZ BENZ FACTORY IN GERMANY!… LOCAL COACHES NEED TO STAY CLEAR FROM SUPER EAGLES UNTIL WE CLEARLY COME TO FIGURE OUT THEIR TRUE INTENTIONS FOR THIS TEAM!
I still do not understand why Finidi will play almost four rookies in a game as important as that Benin Republic game. His decision making is really bad. The replacements he made in the second half was like is this guy serious. The team came worse off in the second half when the team was to improve in its play chasing the game. He brought in players who are playing for SE for the first time and we all saw the performance. Yet he wanted Osimhen to come and kill himself despite his injury…
Not 94 Set…
That’s why the opinion is different.
Weldon’s Abbey
Airheads NFF, you fire your head coach if you are not satisfied with him and then hire a replacement. You don’t hire another coach over your head coach. Dump.
Oyibo backs oyibo coach.
Hahaha, nice one Abbey. Hope you are not the only ex international with this mind set.
Rubbish comment, So it is only oyinbo man that can instill discipline. Very funny. Na we dey do ourselves. If only Finidi had taken a stand on those players that strolled in late. I know very well some gullible fans wil come for his Head. Even their Godfathers will not spare him
That’s where the local coaches get it wrong. They try to satisfy some crazy and unseen forces demanding that certain players are made relevant forgetting that when results go against them. They alone are to be blamed for everything.
If you choose your own team and the results are coming in nicely, No Godfather will be able to upstage you without Nigerians raising their voice for you. Now finidi has resigned without him achieving his set goals. Am sure he has some regrets.
Personally…I still ask myself on what criteria was someone ike senior man invited ahead of people like awoniyi or desler?